Nipple-holder.



. Patented :une l2, |900.

w. F. WARE. NIPPLE HOLDER.

(Application iled'Oc:t 13, 1899.)-

(No Model.)

rws Nonms Firms cu., Nor/unna., wAsmNGToN, n. c.

UNITED STATES lVALTER lVARE, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

NIPPLE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 651, 497', dated June 12, 1900. Application filed ctoher 13, 1899. Serial No. 738.476. (No model.)

To all 1071/0711/ if iii/ay 0071/007711:

Be it known that I, VALTER F. WARE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented .Certain new and useful Improvements in Nipple-Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has relation to the construction of a device com prising, essentially, a rubber nipple adjusted upon a handle for babies use; and it consists in the construction hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a neat, strong, and effective nipple-holder and one which may be readily attached, as hereinafter. described, to the childs wrist to prevent dropping, breakage, or loss.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view vof my improved comforter. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating theconstruction and method of securing the parts together. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the handle, illustrating the position of the cords in the orifice provided therethrough.

A represents a hollow rubber nipple with solid walls open only at the point of connection with the handle to which it is secured.

The handle B, which is preferably about an inch or an inch and a half long and usually constructed of bone or otherl suitable material, is provided at the connecting end with two enlarged rings or bosses b b', preferably integral with the handle, forming a recess or seat c, in which the narrow neck e, forming the walls around the opening of the nipple, is adapted to be seated and to snugly fit, the diameter of this opening of the nipple being preferably slightly less than the diameter of the recess or seat c. The circular guard or button g, preferably of bone or similar material to the handle B, is provided centrally with an orifice g of a diameter slightly less than the exterior diameter of the neck e of the nipple and when placed thereon holds the neck e firmly in position in the seat c, preventing accidental displacement. Enlarged lips c' are provided upon the outermost part of the neck e, abutting between the inner face of the ring ZJ and face of the disk g, thereby tending to effect a tighter joint and to hold the parts -more securely and firmly together.

Through the center of the handle B, lprovide a longitudinally-disposed orifice o, extending from the interior of the nipple A to and through the extreme outer end of the handle, for a twofold purposenfirst, to allow the air in the bulb of the nipple when the nipple is compressed to freely escape and to thereby allow the nipple to be readily compressed and to freely expand when released, and, secondly, to provide a passage and means of neatly and securely holding the cord d for attaching the comforter to the wrist of the child to prevent it from being dropped and lost or broken. The cord d being doubled, as shown, is passed through the orifice o and knotted on the inner end within the walls of the nipple, so as to prevent the cord from being pulled out and to hold it securely in place, and the knot is so arranged as not to interfere with the free passage of the air, the orifice o being of sufficient diameter to allow the two strands of cord to freely pass therethrough and at the same time to leave around the cords sufficient vent for the passage of the air to and fro as the nipple is compressed and expanded. It is clear from the construction illustrated and described herein that the cord b is capable of some longitudinal movement in the air-channel, which operates to prevent the clogging of the external mouth of the air-channel with foreign matter and in this manner always allowsa sufficient ingress and egress passage for the air in its travel to and from the nipple-chamber. This feature is important and overcomes objections heretofore existing in former constructions. The opposite end of the cord d is formed in a loop or the outer ends otherwise united, and intermediate in its length I provide a short circular sleeve or ring it, having an orifice p, longitudinally disposed therethrough, of a diameter slightly less than the greatest diameter of the two cords when in position, so as to slightly compress the cords in order that the ring 7L may be retained at any given position, so as to prevent the looped end from slipping off the childs wrist when placed thereon, while at the same time it may be readily slipped along to disengage the loop when desired.

IOO

rIhe parts may be readily adjusted in assembling, the disk or button g being first passed over the narrow neck e or opening of the nipple by slightly compressing the same and pushing the disk slightly back upon the nipple, then adjusting the neck e, With the lips c', in position upon the seat c, and then slipping the disk or button g back against the lips o into the position illustrated in Fig. 2 for holding and securing the parts together, as described.

I am aware that nipple-holders of different constructions have heretofore been invented having the rubber nipple adj usted in position upon a short handle, and do not claim the same broadly. I aim in my invention to overcome certain defects heretofore existing in the construction and operation and limit myself to the device described. In my invention the nipple is not only firmly and securely held in position, but a free exit and ingress for the passage of the air is provided centrally and longitudinally through the handle without liability to becoming clogged and without weakening to any material degree the device, the passage of the double cord through the handle tending to prevent the ingress of foreign matter so as to clog the oriiice and at the same time allowing sufficient air-space around the cords and the inner walls of the orifice to enable a free passage. It is also clear that with the cord centrally disposed through the handle the handle is perfectly free to be readily and comfortably grasped without interference from the cords.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A nipple-holder, comprising a eompressible rubber nipple, a handle having a longitudi Daily-disposed combined cord and air chan# nel provided centrally throughout the entire length of the said handle communicating with the nipple-chamber, a flexible securing-cord passing through said channel secured at the inner end to prevent the withdrawal of the cord yet capable of some movement longitudinally within said air-channel sufficient to prevent the external opening of the air-chan nel from becoming clogged at its mouth with foreign matter, said longitudinally-disposed channel being of greater area in cross-section than the area of the cord in cross-section operating as a combined cord passage and duct for the ingress and egress ofair `to andffrom the ni pple-chamber, and a guard provided around the neck ofsaid nipple about the point of connection with said handle, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of October, A. D. 1899.

WALTER F. WARE.

XVitnesses:

JNO. T. GRoss, LEWIS II. VAN DUsnN. 

